Single valve well pump



May 9, 1933. A. G. GAGE SINGLE VALVE WELL PUMP Original Filed July 17, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. G. GAGE SINGLE VALVE WELL PUMP Original Filed July 17, 1929 May 9,1933.

m ma la 9, .1933

ARTEUB G. GAGE, 01' LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA SINGLE VALVE WELL PUMP application filed July 17,1929, Serial No. 878,921. Renewed October 7, 1932.

This invention has to do generally with deep well umps and relates more particularly to fluid actuated pumps of the character described in my copending patent appli- 5 cations on oil well pump, Ser. No. 109,098,

lti

filed May l4, 1926 and on valve actuating device, Ser. No. 302,737, filed August 29, 19%.

'llhe present pump and those disclosed in the relerred applications may descrlbed generally as being of the type adaptedto be carried on the lower end of a well pipe and comprising a pumping piston actuated by high pressure llaid, tor instance a preferably clean oil delivered from the ground levl to the pump piston chamber throu h a conduit in the well pipe, and through mid passages in the pump valve head, The pumped liquid trom the well is discharged upward through the valve head by the piston and 1s eahausted into the well pipe, and thence conducted to the ground surface. Although provision may readily be made whereby the delivery ot the actuating and exhaust fluids through the well pipe and conduit therein may be reversed, that is, whereby the high pressure hluid may be delivered to the pump ,hronggh the well pipe proper and the pumped.

liquid eahaust through a conduit therein, the

described arrangement is preilerred.

llieretolore in pumps of this nature the delivery oi the actuating fluid to the pump and the discharge at pumped well liquid have been controlled by a pair of piston valves in the pump valve head, one ot the valves, the pilot valve, being actuated by connection with the pump piston and serving to direct the high pressure fluid against the other valve, termed the master valve, whereby. the latter is caused to control the flow of the high pressure and exhaust fluids, and the operation of the ump piston. By virtue of the pilot valve eing positively actuated by the piston to cause the master valve to be positively moved by fluid pressure to "its proper positions and through its full length .of travel, the pump is insured against stalling on dead center. In previous instances however, it has been necessary to employ the described. combiuat on of valves in order to assure roper valve action to preclude any posslbi ity of the pump becoming stalled.

By the present invention I have provided a valve head and valve structure in combinatlon with a preferred form of valve locking device whereby the control of the pump actuatinp and exhaust fluids may be effected by a smg e valve. The valve may be positively actuated either due to differential fluid pressures and/or by direct connection with the pump piston, the locking device serving to hold the valve in adjusted position and bemg actuated by the piston to release the valve toward the ends of the piston strokes. l have shown in addition a preferred, though not limitative, form oi" piston and pump cylinder and barrel assembly generally similar to that described in the previously referred to copendlng application on oil well pump, wh ch is articularly well suited for prb vldlng di iierential pressure areas on the piston ends, as will later be described, and tor providing unrestricted fluid passages between the piston chamber and the valve head.

I An additional feature embodied in the invention resides in the provision of a reciprocating valve which is capable oil movement through both of its strohes by lluid pressure applied at its ends, Although, as

will later be seen, l have shown in combina tion with a valve ct this type, means for actuating the valve in addition to the application of fluid pressure, it will be understood that the last mentioned means may in some instances be unnecessary, but that gen erally it is desirable as an additional provision for assuring positive action olt' the valve. As stated however, the valve is capable of movement exclusively by fluid pres sure. In order to lock the valve in position at the ends of its travel, a suitable locking device is embodied, and preferably a locking means of the type comprising the subject matter of my copending application on well pump, Ser. No. 378,923, tiled on even date herewith, the operating characteristics or this device being such that the piston serves to actuate the locking means and to intermittently release the valve, And as mentioned, the locking device may preferably- Include lit means in addition to the fluid ressure for actuating the valve. Although have shown herein a form of pump embodyin a single valve, it will be understood that insofar as the described action of the fluid pressure actuated valve in combination with the iston controlled locking device is concerne this feature of the invention is not necessarily limited to a pump having a single valve, and that it may a ply to the control of one of a number of va ves.

The above features and additional details of the invention will be discussed more fully and to best advantage in the following detailed description, throughout which re erence is had to the annexed drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the pump, the valve head being shown in elevation;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged medial section through the valve head showing the valve and the locking device in one position of adjustment, certain of the ports being varied from their true positions as shown in Fig. 5, for purposes of illustration;

Fig. 3 is enerally similar to Fig. 2, and illustrates the valve and locking device in changed osition;

Fig. 4 1s a detailed and enlarged view of the valvelocking device gig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2; an

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

As shown in the drawings, the pump is connected at its upper end, at 106:, with the lower end of the tubing 10, the latter being adapted to be lowered within the well casing (not shown) and the pump during op,- eration being submerged beneath the standing level of the well liquid, in the usual manner. The pump comprises an upper valve head block 11, and the lower piston and cylinder assembly section generally indicated at 12. The latter section embodies an outer pipe 13 secured to the valve head at 14, and a piston cylinder 15 extending concentrical y within the outer pipe and annularly spaced therefrom at 16, the piston cylinderbein similarly mounted on the valve head at 1 A cap 18 is provided for the lower ends of the pipe 13 and the piston cylinder, the annular space 16 communicating with the interior of said cylinder by way of ports 19. Within cylinder 15 is a vertically reciprocating iston 20 having a tubular extension 21 epending therefrom, the latter having a sliding fit within opening 22 in the bottom closure 18. Pipe 21' carries the usual foot valve 23 in its lower end.

A pipe sleeve 24 is carried on the upper end of the piston 20, the pipe having a sliding fit within a barrel 25 which is mounted at 26 on the lower end of the valve head and annularly spaced at 27 from the. inside of .6 the piston cylinder. By virtue of the described iston-construction and the concentric an spaced arrangement of the outer pipe 13, piston cylinder and barrel 25, provision is made for differential pressure area between the upper and lower faces 29 and 30 respectively, of the iston. It may be mentioned at this oint t at to move the iston on its upwar or pumping stroke, hlgh pressure fluid is introduced to chamber 0 below the piston by way of space 16 and ports 19, and to move the piston downward on its return stroke the high 'ressure actuating fluid is directed against t e upper face 29 of the piston by wa of s ace 27 .Referring particular y to igs. 2 and 3, bores 32 and 33 extend continuously through the valve head 11 and open into the pump displacement chamber D above the piston, and a check valve 34 being provided at the upper end of bore 32, and the upper end 332 of bore 33 being comparatively restricted as indicated. Within bore 33 is a vertically reciprocable valve 34 having a plurality of piston sections 34a, 34b and 340.

The valve stem or rod 35 extends at its terior of the well pipe 10 and valve bore 33 at vertically spaced points therein, byv way of ports and 41. The enlarged portion 33 of the valve bore is communicable with the well by way of the horizontal port 43 at its upper end. Intercommunication between the valve bore and the annular space 27 between iston cylinder 15 and the barrel 25 is esta lished by way of ports 44 at the "upper end of space 27, the annular space 16 between the pump cylinder and outer pipe 13 likewise communicating with the valve bore through ports 45. The high pressure piston actuating fluidis delivered to the well pump from apump (not shown) at the ground level, by way of a pipe or conduit 46 within the pipe 10. The high pressure fluid conduit opens into passage 48 in the valve head, the actuating fluid being delivered from said passage to the valve bore by'way of port 49.

As indicated in Fig. 2, when the valve 34 is in its lower position, high pressure fluid is discharged into the outer annular space 1 6 by way of the valve bore between pistons 34a and 34b, and through ports 45. It may also be mentioned that in this position of the va v q l 1011 the p on cham er 0 at pumping column pressure, or in other words the pressure within the well pipe 10, is discharged from space 27 into the exhaust fluid a high pressure uid is conducted to space 27 by way of the valve bore between pistons 34b and 34a, and ports 44, exhaust fluid from space 16 being discharged into passage 38 by way of ports 45, 40 and the valve bore between pistons 34a and 34b.

As previously mentioned, the valve is locked in its upper and lower ositions of adjustment b means of the loc in device the lower end 0 generally in icated at 37, this device comprising the subject matter of the application on valve actuating device referred to hereinabover As shown particularly in Fig. 4, the locking device embodies a pair of latch arms 50 ivotally mounted at 51 on l the valve head 11 and having toe ortions 50a at their up er ends, the arms being urged to swing radially inward in an axial lane of the 'valve stem 35 by means of cofl springs 52 laced in recesses 53 in the valve head an bearing against the toe ortions 50a. The arms each are provide with oppositely inclined cam engaging faces 55 and 55a, notches 56 being ormed midway between the inclined faces as shown. A sleeve 57 havin a bore 570 and integral upper and lower etent flanges 58 and 58a, is mounted on the lower end of the valve stem. Slidably mounted on sleeve 57 is an annular spreader cam 60 having upwardly and downwardly pointin cam faces 60a and 60b res ectively, a cylindrical block 62 within the s eeve bore 5721 being fixed to the cam 60 by means of a pin 63 extending through the block and through longitudinal slots 59 in the sleeve. A spring 65 is placed around the sleeve and confined between the spreader cam and the lower flange 58a, and a second spring 56 is confined between the end ofbore 57 and the u per end of block 62, the combined effect 0 these springs being to counterbalance one another when the device is in the position corresponding to that of Fig. 4. Rod 36, depending from the lower end of block 62, carries a pair of vertically spaced lugs 68 and 69, the distance between these lugs being less than the length of stroke of piston 20 by the length of travel of the valve 34. An abutment or spider is carried within the interior of pipe 24 and is adapted to engage lugs 68 and 69 to actuate the valve locking device as will now be described.

Upon upward movement of the piston 20,

the spider 70 is brought into engagement.

with lugs 68 thereby causing rod 36 and the cylindrical block 62 to move upward from the position shown in Fig. 4. The upper conical cam face 60ais thus brought into engagement with the lower inclined faces 55a on the arms, the latter being caused to spread apart to release the detent flange 58 from engagement in notches 56. During the upward-movement of block 62, spring 66 becomes compressed to the extent that immediately after flange 58 is released by the,

arms, the sleeve is thrown u ward due to the action of the spring and t e valve started on its upward travel. In the present case the valve is adapted to be actuated by fluid pressure'during the remainder of its travel as will be later ex lained, but it may be mentioned that shoul the fluid pressure difierential be insufficient to raise the valve, together with the locking device, to their lilpper positions of adjustment, shown in ig. 3, the pump piston assembly by virtue of engagement of spider 70 with the lug 68, serves to raise the valve parts until the lower detent flange 58a becomes held in the notches starting on its upward travel from the osition of Fig. 1, the corresponding position of the valve being shown in Fig. 2. High pressure fluid delivered to passage 48 through the conduit 46 is delivered to the piston chamber C beneath the piston by way of port 49, the valve bore between pistons 34a, 34b, and ports 45, into the annular space 16 and thence through ports 19 in the bottom of the pump cylinder. As the piston is forced upward by the high pressure fluid, well liquid contained within the displacement chamber D, that is within pipes 21 and 24 and barrel 25, is forced upward through passage 32 in the valve head into the well pipe 10, through which the oil is conducted to the ground surface. The actuatin fluid within the piston chamber C above t e piston, delivered thereto during the previous down stroke of the piston, is discharged u ward through the annular space 27 into t e discharge passage 38 by way of ports 44 and 49,-and the valve bore between pistons 34b and 340.

It will be noted that during the up stroke of the piston, the pressure on the lower end of the valve 34 and on the upper end of the valve stem within the reduced bore 33a, is that pressure corresponding to the static head of, oil in the pumpin column, or in other words the column o liquid within pipe 10. The upper annular end face of the va ve piston 34a owever is exposed to comparatively low well pressure due to the communication of bore 33 at its upper end with the well by way of port 43. Therefore a pressure differential on the upper and lower ends of the valve exists in proportion tothe difference in areas between that of the lower end of the valve or the, cross section area of the valve bore, and that of the reduced bore 33, the result being that b virtue of this difierential pressure, the va ve is forced upwardly from the position of Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 3, when released by the locking device as previously described.

Upon movement of the valve to its upper position shown in Fig. 3, the application of the actuating fluid and pumping columnliquid pressures to the upper and ower ends of the pump piston 20 is reversed. Thus in this position, the high pressure flu1d is delivered to the chamber C above the piston to force the latter down, by way of the valve bore between-pistons 34b and 340, ports 44 and the annular space 27, the liquid in chamber C beneath the piston being discharged into the exhaust passage 38 by way of the annular space 16, ports and 40, and the valve bore between pistons 34a and 34?). And as in the previous instance, when the piston approaches ,the lower limit of its stroke and the locking device 37 is actuated through rod 36 to release the valve, the lat- .ter again is returned to its lower position by fluid pressure. During the down stroke of the piston it will be noted that the foot valve 23 is unseated to permit the well liquid to rise within the displacement chamber D, the pressure on the lower end of the valve end of the valve being that within the well, and which pressure may be considered but slightly above atmospheric. Thus during the downward movement of the piston, the pressure differential 'on the valve is that corresponding to column pressure on the upper end of the valve stem within bore 33a, and well pressure on the lower end of the valve, this differential being suflicient to return the valve to its lower position when released by the locking device.

I claim:

'1. A fluid pressure actuated well pump carried on the lower end of a well pipe, embodying a pump chamber and a vertically movable piston in said chamber, high pressure and exhaust fluid passages communicable with said chamber, the high pressure fluid being adapted to move the piston through both of its strokes, a vertically movable valve within said pump for regulating the fluid flow through said passages whereby the ends of the piston each are alternately exposed to the actuating and exhaust fluid pressures said valve being operable in one direction by fluid pressure, and an operating member connected with said valve and depending within said pump chamber, said piston being adapted to intermittently engage said member to operate the valve.

2. A fluid pressure actuated well pum embodyin a pump chamber and a vertica ly movab e piston in said chamber, high pressure and exhaust fluid passages communicable with said chamber, the high pressure fluid being ada ted to move the piston through both 0 its strokes, a single valve for regulating the fluid flow through said passages whereby the ends of the piston each are alternately exposed to the actuating and exhaust fluid pressures and means for locking said valve in adjusted position.

3. A fluid pressure actuated well pum embodying a pump chamber and a vertically movable piston in said chamber, high pressure and exhaust fluid passages communicable with said chamber, the high pressure fluid being adapted to move the piston through both of its strokes, a single valve for regulating the fluid flow through said passages whereby the ends'of the piston each are alternatel exposed to the actuating and exhaust fluld pressures and means actuated by the piston for releasably locking said valve in adjusted position.

4. A fluid pressure actuated pump adapt- M ed to be mounted at the lower end of a well pipe embodying, a valve head, a pump chamber below said valve head and containing a vertically movable tubular pump piston, hi h pressure and exhaust fluid assages wit in said pipe, means provi ing high pressure and exhaust fluid passages exclusive of the piston bore, communicable with the pump chamber and with the first mentioned passages through the valve head,

and a valve within said valve head for regulating the fluid flow through said valve head whereb the ends of the piston each are alternate y exposed to the actuating and exhaust fluid pressures, said valve being operable by fluid pressure and locking means for said valve.

5. A fluid pressure actuated pump adapted to be mounted at the lower end of a well pipe embodying, a valve head, a pump chamber below said valve head and containing a vertically movable tubular pump piston, high pressure and exhaust. fluid passages within said pipe, means providing high pressure and exhaust fluid passages exclusive of the piston bore, communicable with the pump chamber and with the first mentioned passages through the valve head, and a single fluid pressure actuated valve member within said valve head for regulating the fluid. flow thr gh s valve head.

whereby the ends of the piston each are alpressure and exhaust fluid passages within ill) said ipe and communicable with the pump cham r through the valve head, a single fluid pressure actuated valve for regulating the fluid flow through said passages whereby the ends of the piston each are alternatel exposed to the actuating and exhaust fl iiid pressures, and means for releasably locking said valve in adjusted position, said locking means being actuated by the piston.

t. A fluid pressure actuated pump adapted to be mounted at the lower end of a well pipe embodying, a valve head containing a vertical valve bore, a vertically movable piston valve in said bore, a pump chamber below said valve head and containing a vertically movable pump piston, high pressure, and exhaust fluid passages'within said pipe and communicable with the pump chamber through the valve head, the high pressure fluid being adapted to move the piston through both of its strokes, and means for releasably locking said valve in adjusted position, said locking means being actuated y the piston.

8. A fluid pressure actuated pump adapted to be mounted at the lower end of a well pi embodying, a valve head containing a vertical valve bore, a vertical movable and fluid pressure actuated piston valve in said bore, a pump chamber below said valve head and containing a vertically movable pump piston, high pressure, and exhaust fluid passages within said pipe and communicable with the pump chamber through the valve head, the high pressure fluid being adapted to move the piston through both of its strokes, and means for releasably locking said valve in adjusted position, said locking means being actuated by the piston.

ll. A fluid pressure actuated pump adapted to be mounted at the lower end of a well pipe embodying, a valve head containing a vertical valve bore, a vertically movable piston valve in said here, a pump chamber below said valve head and containing a vertically movable pump piston, high pressure and exhaust fluid passages within said pipe and communicable with the pump chamber through the valve head, and through said valve bore, the high pressure fluid being adapted to move the piston through both of its strokes, a latch mounted on said head and adapted to lock the valve in adjusted position, and means for actuating said latch at the ends of the iston stroke to permit movement of the va ve.

1O.v In a well pump, a cylinder and a fluid pressure operated pumping iston in said 0 linder, reciprocating valve or controlling t e delivery of fluid to said cylinder to operate the piston, said valve bein movable through one of its strokes by flui pressure means for lockin said valve at one end 0 its travel, and lston controlled means for releasing the va ve from the lockin means.

11. In a well pump, a cylinder an a fluid pressure operated pumping piston in said cylinder, a reciprocatin valve for controlling the delivery of flui to said cylinder to o erate the piston, said valve bein movable t rough both of its strokes by uid pres sure, means for locking said valve at the ends of its travel, and piston controlled means for releasing the valve from the locking means.

12. In a well pump, a cylinder and a fluid pressure operated pumping piston in said cylinder, a reciprocating valve for controlling the delivery of fluid to said cylinder to operate the piston, said valve being movable through one of its strokes by fluid pressure means for locking said valve at one end oi its travel, said locking means being adapted to be engaged by the piston to release the valve.

13. In a well pump, a cylinder and a fluid pressure operated pumping piston in said 0 linder, a reciprocating valve for controlling the delivery of fluid to said cylinder to operate the piston, said valve having diflerential pressure areas on its opposite ends and being movable through both of its strokes by fluid pressures applied to its ends, means for locking said valve at the ends of its travel, and piston actuated means for releasing the valve from said locking means.

14. In a well pump, a cylinder and a fluid pressure operated pumping piston in said cylinder, a reciprocating valve for controlling the delivery of fluid to said cylinder to operate the piston, said valve being movable through one of its strokes by fluid pressure, and a valve locking device embodying, a pair of interconnected and relatively movable members, one joined to said valve and the other adapted to be actuated under control of the piston, yielding means resisting relative movement of the members, and means for locking the first mentioned member against movement with the other member, said locking means being releasable upon relative movement of the members.

15. In a well pump, a cylinder and a fluid pressure operated pumping piston in said cylinder, a reciprocating valve for controlling the delivery of fluid to said cylinder to operate the piston, said valve being movable t rough one of its strokes by fluid pressure,

means for locking said 'valve at one end of its travel, piston controlled means for releasing the valve from the locking means, and yieldin .means for moving the valve substantia y throughout its travel.

16. In a well pump, a cylinder and a fluid pressure operated pumping piston in said 0 linder, a reciprocating valve for control- 1mg the delivery of fluid to said cylinder to operate the piston, said valve having differential pressure areas on its 0 posite ends and being movable through E strokes by fluid pressures a plied to its ends means for locking said va ve at the ends 0 its travel, piston actuated means for releasing the valve'for said locking means, and means actuated by the piston and acting to move the valve independent of the piston movement.

- 17. A fluid pressure actuated pump adapted to be mounted at the lower end of a well pipe embodying, a valve head containing a vertical valve bore, a vertically movable and fluid pressure actuated piston valve in said bore, a piston chamber below said valve head and containing a vertically movable pump piston, high pressure, and exhaust fluid passages within said pipe and communicable with the pump chamber through the valve head, said valve being actuated through one of its strokes by differential pressures acting on the valve.

18.- A fluid pressure actuated pump adapted to be mounted at the lower end of a well pipe embodying a valve head containing a vertical valve bore, a vertically movable and fluid pressure actuated piston valve in said bore, a piston chamber below said valve head and containing a vertically movable pump.

piston, high pressure, and exhaust fluid passages within .said pi e and communicable with the pump cham er through the valve head, said valve being actuated through both of its strokes by difi'erential pressures acting on the valve.

19. A fluid pressure actuated pump adapted to be mounted at the lower end of a well.

pipe embodying, a valve head containing a vertical valve bore, a vertically movable and fluid pressure actuated piston valve in said bore, a piston chamber below said valve head and containing a vertically movable pump piston, a disp acement chargber, high pressure and exhaust fluid pass gas within said pipe and communicable with the piston and displacement chambers respectively, through the valve head, the upper end of said valve having a comparatively small pressure area 0th of its "said cylin er and a pipe embodying, a valve head, a vertical valve bore extending continuously through the head, a vertically movable piston valve in said bore, a piston chamber below said valve head and containing a vertically movable pump piston, a displacement chamber, a high pressure fluid conduit within said pipe' and communicable with the chamber through the valve head and through said valve bore, and an exhaust fluid passage within said head and connnunicable valve bore extending continuously through the head, a vertically movable piston valve in said bore, a piston chamber below said valve head and containing a vertically movable pump piston, a displacement chamber, a high pressure fluid conduit within said pipe and communicable with the piston chamber through the valve head and through said valve bore, an exhaust fluid passage within said head and communicable through the valve bore with the displacement chamber and the interior of said pipe,

said piston valve being actuated by virtue of differential pressure areas exposed to the exhaust passage within said pipe and to said displacement chamber, and means for releasably locking said valve in adjusted position, said locking means being actuated by the piston.

22. A' fluid pressure actuated pump adapted to be mounted on the lower end of a well pipe embod ing, a valve head, an outer pipe mounte on said head and depending therefrom, a pump cylinder within said pipe and annularly spaced therefrom, a closure for the lower ends'of the pipe and ump cylinder, a iston within ort in e lower end of the cylinder opening into said annular space, a barrel within said cylinder and annularly spacedjherefrom, a tubular extension on the piston and adapted to slide vertically within said barrel, high pressure and exhaust fluid passages within said well pipe and communicable through the valve head with the annular spaces between said barrel,

day of June, 1929.

i ARTHUR G. GAGE.

piston 

